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Families are being hit in the pocket

THE scrapping of school bus passes is yet another example of government policies hitting ordinary families in the pocket.

Barrow and Furness Labour MP John Woodcock

And more worrying news arrived on Wednesday when we learnt that the economy has slipped back into recession as David Cameron and George Osborne’s plan to return to growth fails.

But while families struggle to make ends meet, the Conservative-led government has chosen to prioritise giving millionaires a tax cut.

Stagecoach’s decision to get rid of its monthly Megarider discount scheme came without warning and will affect hundreds of families across Furness.

That is why I have invited parents, Stagecoach representatives, Cumbria County Council transport personnel and councillors to a meeting in Barrow town hall this afternoon.

I want to listen to what all the parties have to say and together we can discuss our options.

Government-inspired increases in fuel tax and severe cuts in funding support to bus company operators such as Stagecoach are impacting with predictable consequences.

But making children pay the full adult fare is not acceptable.

It has been estimated that the changes will cost parents around an extra £100 per child per year.

And when you stack that extra burden on top of higher charges at the filling station and spiralling food costs, it begins to feel an uncomfortable weight to shoulder for the average Furness family.

And while mums and dads juggle finances just to get by, David Cameron’s government hands out tax cuts to the rich.

There is an estimated 40,000 millionaires in the UK, and each of those will be better off to the tune of £42,000 a year – or £807 a week – as a result of George Osborne’s budget.

TOO many people in Furness are familiar with asbestos-related cancer – or mesothelioma.

Victims are often former shipyard employees who worked with asbestos during the construction of the vessels that defended our shores.

But in their pursuit of adequate compensation, sufferers and their families have been let down by successive governments.

I was glad to be able to speak up for them in the Commons debate on mesothelioma last week.

It is plainly wrong that individuals who have contracted this disease should be asked to hand over part of their damages to their lawyers and insurers instead of negligent employers meeting the costs, as the government proposed in its Legal Aid Bill.

It is to be welcomed, therefore, that the government backed down. Ministers agreed to review the impact of the proposals on mesothelioma sufferers and not to introduce any changes until an acceptable way forward has been agreed.

Have your say

Give up Mr Woodcockan estimated 40,000 millionaires in a population 70,000,000.Clearly they are in a minority. This government like the last gets its cash from ripping off everyone under the millionaire income level. The government takes the most in value from the poorest people in society in percentage terms.

Posted by Tony on
1 May 2012 at 18:06

WAS THIS MEETING ON BUS SUBSIDIES CALLED AT SHORT NOTICE?

WAS IT A KNEE JERK REACTION INSTEAD OF A MEETING PLANNED TO SUIT ALL PARTIES?.

WERE ALL COUNCILLERS INVITED OR A SELECTED FEW?.

WITH MANY LOCAL ISSUES I FEEL SO DISAPPOINTED WITH JOHN WOODCOCK.

HE CAN FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE WISER THAN YOU THOUGHT.

YOU ARE FAILING IN YOUR DUTIES AS OUR MP. AND MANY DO NOT WANT THE BOY WE WANT THE MAN.